Over 100 Academies in the NAF Network Reach Model Level for Delivering High-Quality Educational Experiences for High School Students Across the Nation

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Over 100 academies in the NAF network have reached Model level and 40 have reached Distinguished level on NAF’s annual assessment, delivering high quality educational experiences for high school students across the nation. NAF’s annual assessment measures an academy’s strengths and challenges in implementing NAF’s results-driven educational design that prepares students for success in college and careers. Site visits conducted by a team of distinguished leaders, outside experts, and NAF staff verify academy scores.

A subset of these high performing academies reach additional thresholds to earn Distinguished level – NAF’s highest level of achievement. 40 academies in the NAF network have reached Distinguished level, with 28 of these academies having reached this level more than once and 12 being new to the roster.

NAF President, JD Hoye, said, “It’s an honor each year to spotlight the remarkable accomplishments of NAF’s Model and Distinguished Academies in preparing students for success in college and careers. These academies are true exemplars of what it means to be fully committed to our educational design, and their standards are highly demonstrative of the significant impact we can make as a network of education, business, and community partners. We look forward to continuing to work together and delivering high-quality learning experiences for all future leaders.”

NAF’s annual assessment helps academies assess their progress and increase their alignment to NAF’s standards, reflecting national standards developed by researchers and members from similar career and pathway organizations.

“It is an honor and a privilege each year to recognize those academies that have exhibited exceptional fidelity to an educational design that prepares students for college and career success. We also are proud to spotlight our model academies who have upheld NAF’s commitment to quality and have adhered to the higher levels of assessment to reach their status. Congratulations on a job well done and we look forward to many more years of service and success,” said Katherine Blasik, Vice President, Research and Evaluation, at NAF.

The Distinguished and Model academies will be recognized at NAF Next, NAF’s annual professional development conference, in Dallas, TX this July.

NAF, is a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure that high school students are college, career, and future ready.

NAF works with high need communities to transform the high school experience through an educational design that includes industry-specific curricula, work-based learning experiences, and relationships with business professionals, culminating in a paid internship. NAF academies fit within and enhance school systems, allowing NAF to become an integral part of a plan for higher achievement at a low cost. NAF academies focus on one of five career themes: finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. During the 2016-17 school year more than 96,000 students attended 675 NAF academies across 36 states, including D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2016, NAF academies reported 96% of seniors graduated with 92% of graduates with post-secondary intentions. For more information, please visit: http://naf.org/